 PROFILE |
The Malawi Export Promotion Council (MEPC) is a statutory body established in 1971 by Act of Parliament No 32, the Export Promotion Act. The Council has a board appointed by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism and is responsible to him on all trade policy matters connected with it.
| FUNCTIONS |
To collect information on products available for export and to disseminate it in other countries.
To collect information on foreign markets and disseminate it to local manufacturers, producers and exporters
To compile and periodically issue publications on matters of interest to the exporting community and to foreign buyers
To provide technical assistance to the exporting community in areas such as export procedures, transportation, financing, marketing techniques, export packaging, costing and pricing, publicity and other export matters
To organise the participation of exporters in trade fairs and exhibitions in foreign countries, and in commercial missions
To provide training to its staff and to the exporting community, directly or jointly with training institutions, and to organise workshops, seminars and conferences on export related subjects
To help exporters in securing the required imported inputs for the production of exportable products
To undertake studies on the current economic conditions, with special attention to export activity, and to provide advice to the Government with the aim of improving the export climate
To assist in the simplification of export procedures, documents or formalities
To co-operate with other institutions on matters related to export financing, export incentives, and specialized services to exporters
To examine and evaluate investment ideas for the growth and development of export oriented units
To advise Government on export trends and all matters concerning the promotion of the export programme and its implementation
To initiate development programmes geared to encouraging and diversifying export commodities and devising an extension programme as part of the assistance to be given to the business community.
In order to undertake the above functions, MEPC has a Secretariat organised on the basis of its professional functions with a supportive administrative wing.
| Trade Information Service (TIS) |
The MEPC compiles and disseminates current trade information to exporters. Its day to day activities to help exporters and foreign buyers of Malawi export products include:
|
The provision of advisory services to exporters and foreign importers of Malawi products
Inquiry/reply services
Documentation and library service for exporters
Publication of a quarterly export information bulletin, full-colour Malawi Products handbook, Malawi Craft Guide, occasional publicity brochures, frequent press releases on on-going export oriented activities, and general liaison with the exporting community
| Market surveys/ research |
Market surveys are undertaken to assess import demands in foreign markets for Malawi products, identify constraints to imports in such markets on the basis of those findings, provide advice to exporters on how to penetrate such markets. In order to achieve the objective after a market survey, buyer/seller meetings, contact promotion programmes, or trade fairs and exhibitions are organised to bring importers, exporters and their products together for successful business conclusion. Supply surveys are also undertaken to determine the capabilities of Malawi companies to supply foreign markets.
| Promotion and Extension Services |
The MEPC is responsible for organising Malawi’s participation at international trade fairs whereby exporters meet buyers from countries to discuss business deals, and "Contacts Promotion Programmes" where a selected range of Malawi products are exposed to a target on trade missions. The section is also responsible for extension services through provision of on-the-spot advice to the export industry.
| Project Section |
In order to adopt a developmental role, the Council has set up this section to identify appropriate export related projects to reduce inequalities of opportunity stemming from lack of knowledge and expertise in creating and developing viable export activities by Malawian firms. This section is responsible for the identification, preparation, monitoring and evaluation of export projects with special reference to companies seeking to strengthen their economies through investments in export related industries. For successful investments in export projects, the section will look into pre-investment analysis, investment or implementation phases, and the operational phases of pertinent export projects.
| Training and procedures |
This section is responsible for training over and above its functions of trade facilitation and procedures services. It is involved in identifying barriers within the Malawi economy that are inhibiting the development of export trade and come up with training programmes to assist exporters overcome these bottlenecks. The section is also responsible in coming up with suggestions and recommendations to competent authorities on ways of improving the export environment such as provision of export incentives.
| Commercial Representation |
This section is responsible for commercial representation abroad. At present the Council has two foreign based commercial officers in Zimbabwe and Republic of South Africa. The focus of the work in this section is on trade promotion in all its phases. These include trade negotiations, fostering sound and harmonious trade relationships and liaison with foreign local counterparts. The section contributes greatly in providing commercial intelligence by reporting on market opportunities back to exporters in Malawi. |
